Now that everyone and their mom (that’s not even a mom joke) has a Facebook account, it is easier than ever for your information to fall into malicious hands. Affiliate marketers and scammers are on the prowl to nip, pick, and prey on the weakest Internet users who do not know how to protect themselves. By taking a couple of preventative measures you can ensure the safety of your computer, the protection of your personal information, and the most enjoyable Internet experience possible.
Don’t Give Away Your Phone Number or Address, or Email Unwittingly
If you post a phone number or address online, it becomes easy for sleazy con artists to start spamming you with unwanted calls, junk mail, and spam email messages. If you start to receive unwanted phone calls, it might be because you have your phone number posted on social media network websites or sent out resumes to fraudulent employers.
Use Anti-Virus, Pop-Up Blockers, and System Scanning Software
The best defense for your computer and personal information is a good offense. The Online Privacy Alliance recommends equipping your system with the latest and most trusted Internet browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. These browser upgrades will make sure the software securities are in place. By installing an anti-virus software you can make sure that any unwanted Trojans don’t break into your system when you least suspect it.
Unwanted marketers can easily flood your desktop with devious pop-up ads that can be tricky to close properly. In order to avoid these nuisances, it is a good idea to install a pop-up blocker that eliminates them before they manifest themselves and become a problem.
The last step in making sure your computer is free of harmful software is to perform routine scans on your hard-drives. By performing these scans, you can track what unwanted programs have made it onto your system and delete what is recommended or what you deem necessary.
Delete Your Cookies and Temporary Internet Files Often
Some Cookies and Temporary Internet Files help your browser remember information about the websites you have visited. But some website owners want access to personal information you wouldn’t approve of. A safe way to control what information you share with others is to go into your browser’s security settings and choose an option that suits your needs. If you fear your computer has already been violated, you can go into the Internet settings and manually delete Cookies.